Accessing Homeless Services

Call or visit in person to access services

Call 211

Call 211 or 1-800-799-7233 or 1-800-787-3224 (TTY) for services, shelter and housing information. 211 Alameda County is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Visit in person

• North County Housing Resource Center (homeless adults only)
  • Bay Area Community Services
    In person drop-in hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday, 9:00 am – 12:00 pm 
    Call-in hours: Monday – Friday 8:30 am – 4:30 pm 
    2809 Telegraph Avenue Suite 202, Berkeley, CA 94705
    (510) 495-0131
• North County Housing Resource Center (homeless families only)
  • Women's Daytime Drop-in Center
    Monday – Friday 9:00 am – 2:00 pm (food and hygiene services)
    Monday – Friday 8:00 am – 4:00 pm (all other services)
    2218 Acton Street, Berkeley, CA 94702
    (510) 548-2884

What to expect

Calling 211 connects you to a centralized intake process for homeless services, called coordinated entry. Staff follow a standardized process to assess your level of need, prioritize those with the highest level of need, and coordinate services among a variety of providers.

Initial screening for eligibility

When you call 211 or visit in person, staff will ask about your housing situation and connect you with the appropriate service:

• If you are literally homeless (sleeping on the streets, in a car, or in other places not meant for human habitation) in Berkeley staff will connect you with either the Housing Resource Center (single adults and youth 18-25) or Women’s Daytime Drop-in Center (families with children).
• If you are about to be homeless (couch surfing, temporarily staying with friends, or at risk of losing your housing) staff will connect you with eviction defense and housing retention resources.
• If you are homeless or about to be homeless but reside outside of Berkeley, you will be redirected to homeless resources in your area.

Intake with the Housing Resource Center

If you are eligible for services through the Housing Resource Center (HRC), 211 will transfer your call to the HRC and staff will go through the intake process with you. During the intake, staff will ask you about your:

• History of homelessness
• Barriers to housing (prior evictions, length of time since last lease)
• Disability and vulnerability

Providing full and honest answers will help the HRC offer you the most appropriate services for your needs. You are welcome to have an advocate, such as a case manager, help you answer the intake questions.

Your answers during the intake process are used to determine your level of need, following a standard scoring method used by Alameda County. While all homeless residents of Berkeley are eligible for services, the HRC is currently only able to offer housing subsidies and housing navigation services to individuals that are assessed as having high-needs.

Services through the Housing Resource Center

Once you enter the coordinated entry system, you may be referred to:

• Housing search and application assistance
• Assistance with obtaining benefits
• Temporary rental subsidy with rapid re-housing
• Referrals and connections to medical care and other services

Learn more about coordinated entry from Alameda County and Everyone Home.